Westwood Management Corp IL, an investment management company, has increased its position in Linde plc (NYSE:LIN) by 10.2% during the second quarter of this year, according to its recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm now owns 85,740 shares of Linde’s stock after purchasing an additional 7,904 shares during the period. With this increase, Linde constitutes approximately 4.2% of Westwood Management Corp IL’s holdings, making it their tenth largest holding. As of the end of the most recent reporting period, the value of Westwood Management Corp IL’s holdings in Linde stood at $32,674,000.
In addition to increasing their position in Linde, the business recently announced a quarterly dividend that was paid on September 19th. Investors who held shares as of September 5th received a dividend of $1.275 per share. This translates to an annualized dividend of $5.10 and a yield of 1.37%. The ex-dividend date for this payment was September 1st.
Linde’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) currently stands at 44.50%. This metric measures the percentage of earnings a company distributes to its shareholders in the form of dividends rather than retaining them for reinvestment purposes or other uses.
This latest disclosure from Westwood Management Corp IL highlights their continued confidence in Linde as an investment opportunity. As one of their top holdings and with an increased stake, it shows that they believe in the long-term growth potential and financial performance of the company.
Linde is a multinational industrial gases and engineering company that provides gas solutions in various industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, food processing, and energy. With its diverse range of products and services, strong market presence, and global footprint, Linde has established itself as a leader in its industry.
Investors and market observers may find this recent development relevant, as it provides insights into the investment strategies and decisions of institutional investors such as Westwood Management Corp IL. Such information can be used to gauge the overall sentiment and confidence in a particular company, industry, or market sector.
It is important to note that this information is based on a disclosure made during the second quarter of 2023. Investors should always stay updated with the latest news, disclosures, and financial reports from companies to make well-informed investment decisions.
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Linde (NYSE: LIN) Receives Positive Ratings and Gains Interest from Hedge Funds and Institutional Investors
In recent months, there have been a number of noteworthy changes in the holdings of Linde (NYSE:LIN) by hedge funds and institutional investors. Notably, Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC entered the market with a new position valued at $25,000 in the first quarter of this year. Similarly, GoalVest Advisory LLC significantly boosted its holdings by 6,500.0% during the second quarter, acquiring an additional 65 shares worth $25,000. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC also increased its holdings by 51.9% in the first quarter to own 82 shares valued at $29,000.
Manitou Investment Management Ltd., too, seized an opportunity to invest in Linde earlier this year with a position valued at $29,000. Lastly, FWL Investment Management LLC concluded a new position in Linde in the fourth quarter of last year worth $30,000. All these developments underscore the growing interest and confidence that hedge funds and institutional investors have placed in Linde.
According to reports issued by various research firms analyzing LIN’s performance and prospects, positive ratings have been given to the company. Barclays raised their target price for Linde from $400.00 to $450.00 and rated it as “overweight” on July 28th this year. Another prominent research firm, BMO Capital Markets also lifted their target price on July 31st from $400.00 to $418.00.
HSBC raised their price target on August 7th from $416.00 to $440.00 and categorized it as a “buy”. Wells Fargo & Company followed suit by increasing their price target on July 28th from $420.00 to $444.00 along with an “overweight” rating for the stock.
Further highlighting strong sentiments towards LIN is Mizuho’s upward adjustment of their price target from $382.00 to $410.00 on July 31st earlier this year. These reports, combined with data from Bloomberg, reveal that the average rating for Linde stands as “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $405.59.
Currently, shares of LIN are trading at $373.54 during midday trading on October 8th, an increase of $3.68 compared to its average traded volume of 1,418,019 shares. With a market capitalization of $182.27 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.60, LIN has demonstrated its capacity for sustained growth. Its beta of 0.85 signifies moderate volatility within the market.
Investors should take note that Linde plc experienced its twelve-month low at $266.22 and reached a twelve-month high at $393.67 in terms of stock value. The company is currently showcasing a stable position with its 50-day moving average price standing at $380.97 and its 200-day moving average price recorded at $371.45.
Considering financial performance, Linde (NYSE:LIN) released their quarterly earnings results on July 27th, surpassing analyst expectations with earnings per share (EPS) amounting to $3.57 for the quarter as opposed to the anticipated consensus estimate of $3.47 EPS – exceeding expectations by a notable margin of $0.10.
Moreover, their revenue for the same period amounted to $8.21 billion against analysts’ projections of around $8.70 billion – marking a slight decline of 3.5% year-over-year but still remaining within satisfactory levels.
In terms of profitability measures, Linde registered a return on equity (ROE) index measuring at 16.17%, highlighting impressive management efficacy in utilizing shareholder investments for generating returns.
With an encouraging net margin of 17.20%, Linde demonstrates its ability to retain high profitability levels. Although revenue saw a decrease in the recent quarter compared to the previous year, Linde has managed to maintain a positive growth trajectory.
Looking ahead, sell-side analysts expect that Linde plc will post earnings per share of 14.03 for the current fiscal year, providing investors with further optimism regarding future profitability.
In summary, Linde’s attractiveness as an investment option continues to grow amongst hedge funds and institutional investors. Noteworthy changes in holdings by these entities reflect their increasing confidence in the company’s potential. Likewise, sentiments from research firms further reinforce the positive outlook for Linde.
As shares of LIN continue to trade at $373.54, near their all-time high, it is evident that investors acknowledge its strong market position and potential for further growth. With robust financial performance and encouraging revenue figures, Linde remains well-positioned to generate substantial returns for its shareholders moving forward.
